Two arrested after high-speed chase in Lake Forest

LAKE FOREST – A high-speed chase through the city Wednesday morning ended at Lake Forest Drive and Trabuco Road when an off-duty sheriff's deputy spotted the fleeing female driver in a CVS store, authorities said.

California Highway Patrol officers were pulling over to check on a gold 2005 Ford Explorer sitting on the side of the road at the 241 toll road and Alton Parkway at 8:21 a.m. when the driver suddenly pulled back onto the freeway, CHP Sgt. Paul Pines said.

The driver hit speeds of more than 100 mph before exiting at Lake Forest Drive and heading north into Foothill Ranch, Pines said. Officers chased the SUV through Foothill Ranch as the driver weaved through shopping areas back toward Alton.

The CHP temporarily stopped the pursuit when the woman began racing through red lights but caught up with her again on the 241 headed south. The driver exited the toll road at Irvine Boulevard and swung right onto Lake Forest Drive, he said.

As she approached Trabuco Road, the driver quickly cut into the Ralphs parking lot, crashing into bushes and bailing out of the vehicle. She ran around the parking lot before ducking to the CVS next to the grocery store, Pines said.

An off-duty deputy in the CVS who had been watching the suspect took her into custody, Pines said.

Officers arrested Melanie Ybarrondo, 32, of Hemet and passenger Milo William Parker, 27, of Laguna Beach on suspicion of felony evading and stealing an SUV.

The SUV had been purchased Jan. 19 by a Laguna Woods resident and reported stolen Tuesday night, Pines said.